Parallels in portraits of leadership in mega churches of Gauteng (RSA) and Florida (USA)

Abstract

This thesis, Parallels in portraits of leadership in mega churches of Gauteng (RSA) and Florida (USA), the researcher, studied literature on church leadership with special reference to the leadership of mega churches. He researched issues relating to the nature of church leadership by exploring relevant Bible passages, the lives of certain Bible characters that the Bible presents as good but not perfect leaders, as well as relevant key theological conceptions of leadership. The study accordingly also reviewed different models of church leadership on the hand of a study of some Bible passages and current theological thinking about the matter. The thesis demonstrated that the leadership of mega churches requires certain leadership qualities, values, and competencies. The contribution of the study lies therein that it confirmed and identified through a comparative empirical analysis of details collected through basic research in mega churches of Florida (USA) and Gauteng (RSA) the qualities, values and competencies that are essential for successful leadership of mega churches in very different contexts and church families. The study therefore recommends a desirable leadership style and essential qualities for effective church leadership of mega churches. The study also makes a contribution to the theological understanding of a new but growing church type in urban settings, the mega church; and is of great value to those that lead and study such churches.